Inclinometer



June 29 1948. THEIMER 2,444,265

INCLINOME'IER Filed Aug. 9, 1945 25heets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 29,1948. F. c. OSTHEIMER INCLINOMETER Filed Aug. 9, 194's 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 1 2 M I. M 1

V INVEIYTOR.

ATTORNEY FIG. 3

a view of a cased well, showing I 1 tively positioned therein;

Patented June 29, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orr ce INCLINOMETER Frank C. Ostlielmer, Ville Platte, La.

Application August 9, 1945. Serial No. 609,711

7 Claims.

1 relates to apparatus for deterof bore holes My invention mining deviation from the vertical in the earth. v

In drilling oil wells, crooked holes or holes which deviate materially from the vertical, cause excessive wear upon the well casing, the drill stem string, the production tubing and the pump actuating string of sucker rods. They may also require the use of excessive power in pumping a well, and often result in the drilling string bein twisted in two.

In order to determine the path of the drill bit. it is now common practice to periodically run inclination tests or surveys of the well being drilled. One common manner of making such tests is to lower a partially filled bottle of sulphuric acid into the well and to let it remain stationary [or a sufllcient period of time for the acid to etch the bottle wall. This method requires the cessation of drilling operation for a considerable period of time for each test, in order to give the acid time to etch the bottle. It also requires the provision of new test bottles.

One object of the present invention is to provide an inclination testing apparatus, which omits the use of any etching acid, and therefore saves the time usually required for waiting upon the acid to act.

Another object is to provide a testing device which may be run" in the same manner as is the acid bottle."

A further object is to provide a liquid-type testing apparatus which may be used repeatedly without replacement of the liquid container.

A still further object is to provide a device of this class which has few moving parts to become worn or which might get out of order.

Another object is to provide an inclinometer or declinometer which is simple to read after the test has been made. and which requires no special or technical training on the part of the operator.

Another object will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets or drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional the device opera- Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, earth and the well casing having been omitted;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device. taken substantially along the line 3-4 of Fig.2; and

, Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially along the lines 4-4, 5-5, 8-8, and 1-1 respectively.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all of the figures wherein they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral l designates a portion of the earth through which has been drilled a bore hole or well which has been provided with a usual well casing section 2. The testing portion of the device is indicated, as a whole, by the reference numeral 3, and is supported upon a threaded rod 4. The rod 4 is rigidly positioned between two stem sections 5 and t which may well be formed of usual rotary drill stem, or any other suitable pipe or rod which will furnish suflicient weight to sink rapidly through any fluid. such as drilling mud, which is usually present in the well casing 2. The stem sections 5 and 8 are equipped with a plurality of usual outwardly extending spring fingers or bowed ribs 1 which are adapted to trictlonally engage the well casing 2. while the apparatus is being lowered therethrough. The fingers l are for the purpose of preventing rotation of the device in the well casing during the lowering operation.

The testing portion 3 or the apparatus is best detailed in Fig. 3, and includes:

A cylindrical transparent body It having an axial bore II to permit passage therethrough oi the above mentioned rod l. The lower end or the body is seated upon suitable packing I! in an annular groove I! in the upper surface of a base fitting ll which is rigidly engaged with the rod 4. The upper surface of the fitting I4 is further provided with a deeper annular groove I! which is narrower than the groove I! but concentric therewith. The transparent body l0 has a plurality of radially spaced longitudinally extending through bores IS, the lower ends of which communicate with the groove IS in the base fitting.

The upper end of the transparent body III is seated against a packing ring 11 in an annular groove l8 in the lower surface of a tubular fitting i9 threadedly engaged upon the rod 4. The upper fitting I! has a plurality of radially spaced longitudinally extending through bores 20, which are preferably smaller in diameter than the bores it in the transparent body iii, and each or which communicates with one oi! the bores i6. The annular groove I! in the base fitting I4, and the radially spaced bores it in the transparent body iii, are adapted to receive a liquid 2| wh llh o y partially fills the bores l6.

The testing apparatus 3 further includes a tubate valve housing 22 having its lower end seated 1 an enlarged head 26. Compression springs 21 are provided around the stems 25 in the housing 22 to urge the valve ring 24 toward a seated position, and to normally hold the same seated. Upstanding rod guide lugs 28 are provided on the upper end of the housing 22.

As a means for holding the valve ring 24 in an unseated position, each of the stems 25 has a side notch 29, and the notches are each adapted to receive one edge of a latch member 30. The two latch members 3|] have one end of each pivotally mounted upon pivot pins 3| carried by the upper ends of two upstanding lugs or projections 32 also carried by the upper end of the housing 22. The latch members 30 are adapted to swing over the upper surfaces of the lugs 28 and to engage in the notches 29 to prevent the springs 21 from causing downward movement of the stems and consequently the valve 26.

Before the clevis is lowered into a well, the valve stems 25 are raised, and the latch members 30 are inserted into the notches 29. Consequently, if the well deviates from a truly vertical position at any point, the liquid 2| in the vertical bores it will seek different levels in the bores according to the angle from the vertical at which the device is disposed in the well. The liquid is free to gravitate and seek common levels in the bores it, due to the fact that the smaller bores 2|) thereabove all open into the air chamber 23. It is obvious, however, that should the smaller vertical bores 20 all be simultaneously closed, an air-lock would be created in the bores it above the liquid level, and the liquid would then be held against any flowing movement in the bores. The ring type valve 24 is provided for the purpose of closing said bores 20, and thus creating such an air lock in the bores Hi. It is apparent that should the latch members 30 be removed from their notches 29, the springs 21 will instantly close the ring valve 24, and create such an air lock.

As a means for selectively and simultaneously swinging the two-latch members 30 out of their notches 29, while the device is in the well, the following described mechanism is provided.

Above the latches 80 and 'below the enlargement or heads 26 on the stems 25, the rod 4 is surrounded by a flat disk 35 which is suitably periorated to freely surround the rod 4 and the two stems 25. The nether face of the disk 35 is .provided with two depending wedges 36 having tapered surfaces 31 which lie above the notch engaging edges of the two latch members 80. The

- disk is free to move vertically, and when forced downwardly. the tapered surfaces 31 of the wedges 36 are adapted to contact the notch engaging edges of the latch members 30 and move the latches out of the notches 29.

In operation, the testing portion 3 of the device is mounted between the two stem sections and 6, as shown in Fig. 1, and the upper stern section 5 is connected to the lower end 8 of the rod string. Before being inserted in the upper end of the well, the valve stems 2b are manually raised, and the latch members 30 are engaged in the side notches 29. This operation latches the ring valve 24 in an unseated position, which permits a free flow of air from the air chamber 23 through the upper vertical bores 20 to the lower vertical bores It, thus permitting the liquid 2| to seek a common level in the bores It.

The device is then lowered into the well casing 2 which is normally filled with drilling fluid, and during the lowering operation, the drilling fluid acts to hold the disk 35 at the upper end of its permitted travel, or against the heads 28 on the valve stems 26. This is due to the resistance of the drilling fluid to movement of the disktherethrough.

When the device has been lowered to the position in the well at which it is desired the test shall be made, the rod string and consequently the whole device, is suddenly raised a few inches. This movement causes the disk 35 to be moved downwardly with relation to the housing 22, due to the resistance of the drilling fluid in the well, and such downward movement of the disk, causes the wedges 36 to simultaneously engage the latch members 30 and force them out of the two notches 29 in the valve stems 28. Release of the two valve stems permits the springs 21 to instantly move the ring valve 24 downwardly to hermetically close the upper ends of the small vertical bores 20. Closure of the bores 20 acts to trap some air in each of the bores it above the liquid 2|. The trapping of such air prevents any further flow of liquid in the bores It or in the groove ii in the base fitting M.

The device is next brought out of the well and the liquid levels in the bores i8 are observed.

The angle at which the device was disposed in the well at the time the valve 26 was closed, may be determined by tilting the device until the various liquid levels in the bores l6 are perfectly horizontal. Since the body I0 is transparent, the liquid levels may readily be observed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be apparent that a device has been disclosed which is capable of accomplishing all of the objects and purposes for which it is intended.

Obviously, some changes in the construction of the device could well be made without detrimentally affecting its practicability. and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inclinometer, including: a transparent body having a series of radially spaced vertical open ended bores partially filled with liquid and communicating at their lower ends with a reservoir of said liquid; an air chamber communicating with the upper ends of said bores; a valve for securely closing said upper ends; means for holding said valve open as the device is lowered into a well; and means for selectively closing the valve for trapping air in said bores above said liquid.

2. Organization as described in claim 1, in which said valve holding means includes: a valve stem having a notch in its side; and a pivoted latch adapted to engage within the notch for holding the stem unmovable.

3. Organization as described in claim 1, in which said valve closing means includes: a spring urging the valve toward its closed position; and mean actuated by movement of the device in the 4. Organization as described in claim 1, in.

which said valve holding means includes: a valve stem; and a latch adapted to engage the stem and hold the same immovable; and in which the valve closing means includes a spring urging the valve toward its closed position; and means actuated by movement of the device in the well for releasing the latch and submitting the valve to actuation by the spring.

5. An inclinometer, including a transparent body having a series of radially spaced vertical bores having both ends open; a reservoir connecting the lower ends of said bores; a liquid filling said reservoir and partially filling said bores; an air chamber communicating with the upper ends of said bores; a valve for securely closing said upper ends; means for holding said valve open as the device is lowered-into a well; and means for selectively closing the valve for trapping air in saidbores above said liquid.

6. An inclinometer, including a transparent body having a series of radially spaced vertical bores having both ends open; a reservoir connecting the lower ends of said bores; a liquid filling said reservoir and partially filling said bores; an air chamber communicating with the upper 0 ends of said bores; an annular valve in said chamber above said bores for securely closing their upper ends simultaneously; an upwardly extending valve stem carried by the valve and having a notch in one side; a pivoted latch adapted to engage within the notch for holding the stem immovable; a spring around the stem within the Number chamber for urging the valve toward a closed position; and means actuated by movement of the device in the weilfor releasing the latch and subjecting the valve to actuation by the spring.

'7. Organization as described in claim 6, in which the latch releasing means includes; a disk movable vertically with relation to the body by resistance of a well fluid; and a depending wedge adapted to release the latch when the disk is moved. a

FRANK C. OSTHEIMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,911,997 Gillespie May 30, 1933 McCurdy Feb. 4, 1936 

